LOVING TRIBUTE TO THARIAN JOSEPH
RETD SECRETARY COMPLAINTS & APO,
SOUTHERN RAILWAY CHENNAI
Adieu and not good bye !!!
Mr. Tharian Joseph passed away on 1st February 2010 at his residence in Chennai . The burial service was held on 5th Feb 2010 at St Luke’s Church, Anna nagar, Chennai 40
At the outset I offer my personal condolences and on behalf of the Executive Committee and the members of the Southern Railway Catholic Association of which I am one of the Vice Presidents.
He was Asst Personnel Officer and Secretary Complaints (Public Grievances) directly reporting to the SDGM of Southern Railway till his retirement in 1990. He was the President of the Southern Railway Catholic Welfare Association Southern Railway Chennai till his retirement. Like until Gandiji’s arrival from South Africa, no one knew of Congress as a political party, until Mr. Tharian took over the reins of the Southern Railway Catholic Welfare Association, no one knew about its existence. It was run on as a charity organization by a few Anglo Indian employees of the Southern Railway.
When he took over, he gave a name to it with all rules and regulations and byelaws and got it registered to make it a transparent organization and with definite structure to run it continuously. Thus he gave us a name and a structure and a face among our non-Christian colleagues in Southern Railway. We are thankful to his trial blazing work.
He did not stop with just naming the “baby” but went on to find nourishment in terms of fund rising for the association. He proposed to have music evening along with release of a souvenir. He made us to go around and to collect funds for advertisements to be published in the souvenir. With all the efforts the souvenir was published in 1988 first of its kind in the history of the organization. Thus, he toiled to collect enough money to run the organization. In the course of action, he released a list of his friends and relatives who were in the banking and jewelers business.
Further, he made to organization as one of the notable one among the other lay organizations of the Madras Mylapore Arch Diocese. He was successful, in organizing the annual thanksgiving service right in the NJO quadrangle with Most Rev Dr Casimir G SJ DD PhD, the then arch bishop of Madras Mylapore Arch Diocese as the chief celebrant of the Eucharistic service. The entire staffs of HQ were amazed at his organizing such blitzkrieg right in the railway campus. The fete has not been repeated even after two decades. The meticulous planning and execution was his original idea and he executed through all of us splendidly well.
In order to encourage the spirit of unity among the Catholics employees of the Southern Railway, he organized long pilgrimage tour to Goa. To set an example, he joined with his family. The visit to the holy cathedrals and the visit to the Bom Jesu Cathedral where the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier, patron saint of missions and popularly known as Lord of Goa are preserved, are unforgettable. We owe a lot of thanks to the efforts he had taken.
Also, during his tenure as the President, we had ample opportunity to visit the homes maintained by the Missionaries of Sisters of Charity, the congregation of Mother Theresa in around Chennai. The practice of having Friday Eucharistic service at the St Antony’s Church was started during his tenure. Also visit to various parishes during Good Friday in and around Chennai and the way of the cross on Fridays were started during his tenure as the President.
Personally, Mr. Tharian and my father David Dorairaj retd AWM/EWS/AJJ Southern Railway, were good friends and the friendship lasted till the death of my father on 13th May 2009. when I informed about the death of my father at the Railway Hospital on 13th may 2009, he was eager to come pay his last respects to him. I cannot forget his initiative to take myself and my friend Mr A L Xavier, in to the Wisemen Association Perambur Branch. Together with him we both had attended many meetings of the association and were able to execute a few projects for the needy people.
What is striking was the man’s compassion for the poor and the needy. Though born in a well to do family in kerala, he never had the air of superiority and snobbishness. I never felt him as an officer of the Central Govt but always as a great friend and a guide. Hence, he used to call me often on phone and enquire about many things. Even a month ago he was passionately pleading for a widow of a railway employee of LW/PER for issue of ID card.
Once again, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law and grand children. Hence, let me conclude “adieu and not good bye” because as Christians, we believe that we shall see him on the beautiful shore as we see him now.
D XAVIER GNANARAJ,
RETD SECRETARY COMPLAINTS & APO,
SOUTHERN RAILWAY CHENNAI
Adieu and not good bye !!!
Mr. Tharian Joseph passed away on 1st February 2010 at his residence in Chennai . The burial service was held on 5th Feb 2010 at St Luke’s Church, Anna nagar, Chennai 40
At the outset I offer my personal condolences and on behalf of the Executive Committee and the members of the Southern Railway Catholic Association of which I am one of the Vice Presidents.
He was Asst Personnel Officer and Secretary Complaints (Public Grievances) directly reporting to the SDGM of Southern Railway till his retirement in 1990. He was the President of the Southern Railway Catholic Welfare Association Southern Railway Chennai till his retirement. Like until Gandiji’s arrival from South Africa, no one knew of Congress as a political party, until Mr. Tharian took over the reins of the Southern Railway Catholic Welfare Association, no one knew about its existence. It was run on as a charity organization by a few Anglo Indian employees of the Southern Railway.
When he took over, he gave a name to it with all rules and regulations and byelaws and got it registered to make it a transparent organization and with definite structure to run it continuously. Thus he gave us a name and a structure and a face among our non-Christian colleagues in Southern Railway. We are thankful to his trial blazing work.
He did not stop with just naming the “baby” but went on to find nourishment in terms of fund rising for the association. He proposed to have music evening along with release of a souvenir. He made us to go around and to collect funds for advertisements to be published in the souvenir. With all the efforts the souvenir was published in 1988 first of its kind in the history of the organization. Thus, he toiled to collect enough money to run the organization. In the course of action, he released a list of his friends and relatives who were in the banking and jewelers business.
Further, he made to organization as one of the notable one among the other lay organizations of the Madras Mylapore Arch Diocese. He was successful, in organizing the annual thanksgiving service right in the NJO quadrangle with Most Rev Dr Casimir G SJ DD PhD, the then arch bishop of Madras Mylapore Arch Diocese as the chief celebrant of the Eucharistic service. The entire staffs of HQ were amazed at his organizing such blitzkrieg right in the railway campus. The fete has not been repeated even after two decades. The meticulous planning and execution was his original idea and he executed through all of us splendidly well.
In order to encourage the spirit of unity among the Catholics employees of the Southern Railway, he organized long pilgrimage tour to Goa. To set an example, he joined with his family. The visit to the holy cathedrals and the visit to the Bom Jesu Cathedral where the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier, patron saint of missions and popularly known as Lord of Goa are preserved, are unforgettable. We owe a lot of thanks to the efforts he had taken.
Also, during his tenure as the President, we had ample opportunity to visit the homes maintained by the Missionaries of Sisters of Charity, the congregation of Mother Theresa in around Chennai. The practice of having Friday Eucharistic service at the St Antony’s Church was started during his tenure. Also visit to various parishes during Good Friday in and around Chennai and the way of the cross on Fridays were started during his tenure as the President.
Personally, Mr. Tharian and my father David Dorairaj retd AWM/EWS/AJJ Southern Railway, were good friends and the friendship lasted till the death of my father on 13th May 2009. when I informed about the death of my father at the Railway Hospital on 13th may 2009, he was eager to come pay his last respects to him. I cannot forget his initiative to take myself and my friend Mr A L Xavier, in to the Wisemen Association Perambur Branch. Together with him we both had attended many meetings of the association and were able to execute a few projects for the needy people.
What is striking was the man’s compassion for the poor and the needy. Though born in a well to do family in kerala, he never had the air of superiority and snobbishness. I never felt him as an officer of the Central Govt but always as a great friend and a guide. Hence, he used to call me often on phone and enquire about many things. Even a month ago he was passionately pleading for a widow of a railway employee of LW/PER for issue of ID card.
Once again, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law and grand children. Hence, let me conclude “adieu and not good bye” because as Christians, we believe that we shall see him on the beautiful shore as we see him now.
D XAVIER GNANARAJ,
AAO/W/PER
NEW JOINT OFFICE
SOUTHERN RAILWAY,
AYANAVARAM CHENNAI 23
Posted on the 5th February 2010
Posted on the 5th February 2010
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